Escape Coronavirus with Art! Art Therapy at Home
Written by Harvey Cross
Currently, the whole world still continues to struggle through the most impactful crisis of a generation, for over a year the coronavirus pandemic has had disastrous consequences on our economies, our resources, our jobs, and our lives. But, for many others, they must battle another silent enemy summoned by the lockdowns and the loss that has become so familiar recently.
The events of the past year have taken a huge toll on the mental health of thousands across the planet, many becoming depressed in response to the constant stress and isolation experienced in 2020, which has led experts to warn that of the post-coronavirus repercussions to be expected, the lasting impact on our mental health may be one of the most severe. Perhaps, for none more so than those working within the NHS, you can imagine that fighting on the frontline against the virus and the immense burden of making daily life and death decisions would inflict a massive impact on one’s mental health. So, is there anything that can be done?
While nobody has the power to click their fingers and make the coronavirus vanish, despite how much we might wish that to be true, there may still be things that we can do to help improve our mood or mental health somewhat during these dark times, one of these things is as simple as trying to be a bit more artistic. Believe it or not, you don’t need to be typically ‘artistic’ or a talented artist to gain something from art therapy, you just need to be enthusiastic and interested in trying something new, in fact, the value of art therapy was noticed as early as the 1940s, when doctors recognised that everyday individuals suffering from mental illnesses often found it easier to express emotions and stress through artwork.
Since then, art therapy has become its own specialist field, but unique in the way that it doesn’t always require a specialist to do it, simply lazing on your sofa, putting on your favourite music, and messily sketching an image of your cat is a perfectly valid form of art therapy if it helps you destress. Practically anyone can do it!
Karen - Social Painting for Fun!
Furthermore, a brief search for art therapy on YouTube reveals just how much help or inspiration there is available if you want to start doing some by yourself, but remember, the focus is on having and doing the sort of art that you find fun, so maybe you don’t even need any advice if you already know what type of art you enjoy. But what if you do feel stressed by the pandemic but you don’t really enjoy art, still don’t give up on art therapy just yet.
The average person’s experience of making artwork might be limited to what they did at school in art class, typically, a lot of school art lessons tend to focus on types of art like drawing and painting, which many people might not enjoy, while other mediums like sculpting, printing, collaging, or crafting could be totally ignored in these classes. You might find that half the fun of the process is finding the style of art that you like the most and find the most relaxing. Also, make sure to remember that you're not making anything you have to display, and don’t feel embarrassed if it's not a masterpiece, it's just a bit of a fun, and even if it looks a bit funny, simply being around all sorts of art can have its own benefits as a 2017 study in hospitals found.
In today’s modern society, its true that words like ‘stress’, ‘depression’ and ‘therapy’ often have very serious and negative connotations attached to them, and of course, they are serious matters so sometimes rightfully so, but this can also develop into the beliefs that therapy is only sought by people with something wrong with them, and that depression or stress are private and should not be openly discussed with others, but kept to ourselves.
There’s nothing wrong with you for feeling overwhelmed, in fact this year I’d say it’s the norm, and deciding to make a very messy painting or a strange looking sculpture that’s meant to be a giraffe but looks more like a dinosaur, is an enjoyable way to take your mind off things.
Sarah - Nottingham Everyday People
By doing art therapy, it's not an admission to yourself that there might be something wrong with you for wanting to do anything with the word ‘therapy’ in it, it's just a fun hobby that many people do without even knowing so because it's great way to banish some stress.
So, maybe the next time you feel like you need a break, try letting your artistic side loose in whichever way you see fit and you might just enjoy it.